Nearly a decade ago, The Shop opened its first location inside the Contemporary Arts Center and set out to create something different for New Orleans professionals. We believed workspaces should be more than offices. They could be places where entrepreneurs, creatives, nonprofits, startups, and established businesses come together to build meaningful connections and do their best work.
Today, we’re excited to share the next chapter of that story in the Big Easy. The Shop SOMA is officially open in South Market, marking our second New Orleans location and fourth location nationwide. Located on the ground floor of The Standard at 798 South Rampart Street, The Shop SOMA expands our footprint in the city where it all began while bringing a new style of workspace to one of Downtown New Orleans’ most dynamic neighborhoods.
The decision to grow in New Orleans was an easy one. Since opening at the Contemporary Arts Center in 2017, our original location has operated at full office capacity and become home to hundreds of members across industries ranging from technology and finance to nonprofits, professional services, and the arts. Continued demand made it clear that New Orleans was ready for more.
While our CAC location has become known as a vibrant hub for collaboration, programming, and connection, The Shop SOMA offers a different experience. Designed as a more intimate workplace environment, SOMA provides professionals with a focused, hospitality-driven setting while still connecting them to the broader Shop community throughout New Orleans and beyond.
The new location includes private offices, dedicated desks, commons memberships, conference rooms, phone booths, meeting space, and access to the amenities and services members have come to expect from The Shop. Members at SOMA also enjoy access to our CAC location, as well as our Brooklyn and Salt Lake City locations and coworking spaces across the globe through the League of Extraordinary Coworking Spaces (LExC) network.
What makes SOMA especially exciting is its location. South Market has emerged as one of Downtown New Orleans’ most energetic neighborhoods, blending residential living, restaurants, retail, hospitality, and business into a walkable urban district. Whether you’re grabbing coffee before a meeting, meeting a client for lunch, or heading to happy hour after work, everything you need is just steps from your workspace.
The opening celebration brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, commercial real estate professionals, economic development partners, and members of the Downtown community. Hosted in partnership with the Downtown Development District, the event highlighted the continued momentum of New Orleans’ entrepreneurship ecosystem and the growing demand for flexible, collaborative work environments.
As workplace needs continue to evolve, we remain focused on creating spaces that offer flexibility without sacrificing professionalism, design, or community. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur looking for a productive home base, a growing team seeking private office space, or an established company searching for flexibility, The Shop SOMA was built to support the way people work today.
Most importantly, SOMA allows us to continue investing in New Orleans. This city has played a foundational role in The Shop’s story, and we’re proud to deepen our roots here while creating new opportunities for professionals and businesses to thrive.
The Shop SOMA is now open. We can’t wait to welcome you!